Friday, July 07, 2006

NORTH KOREA DEMANDS JAPAN END SANCTIONS

PYONGYANG — North Korea on Friday demanded that Japan halt sanctions it has imposed on the country in reaction to Pyongyang's test-firing of ballistic missiles, warning that the North would take "stronger measures" should Tokyo continue along the current path.

"Japan is translating its criticism against us into action," Song Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador in charge of diplomatic normalization talks with Japan, told reporters in Pyongyang. "This may force us to take stronger physical actions" as a response, he said. Asked what the steps may be, he said, "I leave that to your imagination."